SXSW: Hudson Moore & Trust

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3 18 2012

When it comes to country, there’s a fine distinction between Nashville and Texas. And while most of us may not be able to discern the distinction between the mainstream (George Strait, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood) and Texas sound (Pat Green, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn), it is a notion that runs deep through the heart of Texas. This SXSW we followed one of the state’s emerging artists, Hudson Moore, as he forged his way through four shows in just a few days. Equally talented is Canadian trio, TRUST. David Coggins reports on the next big things.

SXSW features musicians from every step of the career ladder—the keynote performer this year was none other than Bruce Springsteen. But mostly, it’s a place to discover the next big thing. One promising newcomer is Hudson Moore, a Fort Worth native who played in the elegant Gibson Room at Maggie Mae’s. It was a straightforward set of Southern rock, with a healthy does of country blues guitar. Just twenty-one years old, the promising Mr. Moore, whose new record, Fireworks, came out in February, could be a fixture on the Texas scene and beyond for years to come.

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Trust, another talented new act, took a different approach. The Toronto-based trio plays what’s essentially depressing dance music, a rare combination. The vocals, dispassionate but longing, recall Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, but the music isn’t nearly as stark. Lush keyboards and driving beats had the crowd wanting more of songs in a decidedly minor key.